MN HF245

Commissioner of human services contracts with an experienced independent organization or consultant (preferably the National Association for Regulatory Administration) to develop a risk-based model for monitoring family child care licensing compliance.

New licensing model must weight violations based on potential risk to children's health and safety, tie sanctions to risk levels, and be child-centered, family-friendly, and fair to providers.

Consultant conducts stakeholder engagement with parents, licensed family child care providers, county licensors, Department of Human Services staff, and child development experts to determine appropriate licensing standards, violation tiers, and sanctions.

Commissioner must submit report and proposed legislation to implement the new licensing model to legislative committees with jurisdiction over child care regulation by February 1, 2024.

$1,500,000 appropriated from general fund in fiscal year 2022 for the modernization project, available until June 30, 2024.